Preston, UK 30th June, 2013. Kash Singh, Henna artist, applying artwork to the hand of Syliva Moxham, 60 at the Mela & Festival partnership north-west held at the Flag Market, Preston, UK a family festival of South Asian Culture. The event sponsored by Lancashire County Council was opened by the Lady Mayor Councillor Veronica Afrin. The multicultural event featured the usual combination of live music, dance, food and craft stalls, a funfair, activity workshops and a lively Mela Procession around the city centre. Credit: Cernan Elias/Alamy Live News
Mehndi or Henna is derived from the Sanskrit word mendhikā.[1] The use of mehndi and turmeric is described in the earliest Hinduism's Vedic ritual books. Haldi (staining oneself with turmeric paste) as well as mehndi are Vedic customs, intended to be a symbolic representation of the outer and the inner sun. Vedic customs are centered around the idea of "awakening the inner light". Traditional Indian designs are of representations of the sun on the palm, which, in this context, is intended to represent the hands and feet. mehndi also known as henna in the western world is the application of as a temporary form of skin decoration, practiced mainly India and Nepal. Popularized by Indian cinema and entertainment industry Bollywood, the people in Pakistan, Bangladesh and the Maldives as well as by expatriate communities from those countries also use Mehandi. This tradition has spread to exist among some Arab Women particularly the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf nationals. Mehndi decorations became fashionable in the West in the late 1990s, where they are sometimes called henna tattoos.
Size: 3600px × 2400px
Location: Preston, Lancashire, UK
Photo credit: © Cernan Elias / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: Yes
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